Scorpions... (Bullhead City, Kingman: work, sick, house)

[V.I.P]

Originally Posted by ms973

My husband and I just came back from Arizona. We stayed in the Litchfield Park/Goodyear areas and drove from west to east of the Valley. Except for traffic, we really liked what we saw. So we came back to NY and decided to really consider making the move to AZ. Until last night!! The Discovery Channel aired a program called the BIG STING! I freaked out. I started to reconsider. This couple and kids got bitten in bed by a scorpion! I have a toddler and 2 dogs (sharpei). I did some research on the internet and I heard about chickens. That having them actually helps. LOL. I found that hysterical. Do people actually have chickens in AZ?? I am normally not scared of bees, insects, roaches etc.
Should i be this scared? I really appreciate your help. Good or bad news, I liked to hear about it. Thanks!!!

I live in brand new development in middle of nowhere and people tried to freak me out saying scropions will get you. Not true. I have only seen 1 in my home and 2 outside and that was right after we moved in. Since getting an exterminator we have not seen any. So I say scorpions are no differnt than having rats or roaches. You get an exterminator and they will treat for them. You also can get a cat if you don't want to get exterminator or a chicken. I moved from N.J. and N.Y. area over 20 years ago and love it here and you will too.

V.I.P.

[Artliquide]

To VIP

There are areas that are worse than others. Whether or not a certain area is infested depends on a lot of factors. There are places that have a scorp problems, and it's better to acknowledge that and offer ideas to fix the problem, rather than to deny that the problem exists. Also, exterminators may work for some, but some of my neighbors still had scorps and were stung despite having an exterminator spray every month. I'm just saying...better safe than sorry.

Though I'd love for the growth in Phoenix to slow down, I don't personally discourage anyone from moving here. But bark scorpions are a reality here in AZ, just as much as massive forest fires, west nile virus, pollution, urban sprawl, violence, identity theft, car theft, and heavy traffic are. Telling people that these are not real issues might actually scare them off if they end up having to face them firsthand. I'm glad you don't have a problem with scorps, but there are many people who do, and I think it's helpful to let people be aware of the possibility and offer solutions that work.

[sk213]

Thanks for all the info - much appreciated.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by sk213

Thanks for all the info - much appreciated.

No problemo. Also, I have to correct myself yet once more. It's spelled diatomaceous earth. D'oh. Also, if you end up getting some, make sure you use a face mask when you sprinkle it, because it's like very fine sand, mostly silica, and it's definitely not good to breathe. However, once it settles, it's safe to have inside the house. It's a lot like using boric acid to get roaches. Oh, and don't get pool grade because it won't work, at least not as well. Get food grade. Also, for anyone who has chickens (also a good pest reducer), you can actually bathe chickens in diatomaceous earth to get rid of parasites that might be under their plumage.

[baught]

I was stung by a bark scorpion tonight. I was in bed and the cat jumped up and was acting funny. I don't know if the cat sensed it or brought it up. It was either in my pajama leg or on the outside, but from the spots of pain, I think it stung 3 times. I didn't find it right away, and at first I didn't actually think it was a scorpion. (I had planned never to be stung). I jumped up though and shook out my pants leg, put on my glasses and turned on the light and didn't see anything. I then looked at my leg, and didn't see anything. But, I couldn't believe the pain. Sharp, tingling, feels like an electrical current being injected and running up and down my leg. I then went into the bathroom to look for the black light. (We do have the darn creatures in the house, so, hence the light) and found the darn cat playing with the scorpion on the floor. I threw a book on it and stepped down hard and then ran to the computer to find every possible scorpion sight. I found them and I'm half ready to either panic or not. Sleep is out of the question however. Large amounts of fear and pain are making it impossible.

[Artliquide]

Originally Posted by baught

I was stung by a bark scorpion tonight. I was in bed and the cat jumped up and was acting funny. I don't know if the cat sensed it or brought it up. It was either in my pajama leg or on the outside, but from the spots of pain, I think it stung 3 times. I didn't find it right away, and at first I didn't actually think it was a scorpion. (I had planned never to be stung). I jumped up though and shook out my pants leg, put on my glasses and turned on the light and didn't see anything. I then looked at my leg, and didn't see anything. But, I couldn't believe the pain. Sharp, tingling, feels like an electrical current being injected and running up and down my leg. I then went into the bathroom to look for the black light. (We do have the darn creatures in the house, so, hence the light) and found the darn cat playing with the scorpion on the floor. I threw a book on it and stepped down hard and then ran to the computer to find every possible scorpion sight. I found them and I'm half ready to either panic or not. Sleep is out of the question however. Large amounts of fear and pain are making it impossible.

I doubt you were stung 3 times or you'd probably be catatonic. People I know who were stung once said that they felt a similar intense pain that you feel. I would go to urgent care or the ER just to make sure you're ok...but if you were walking around, it sounds like you'll be fine. One lady I know was stung and was paralyzed on one side for several days. Granted, she has a tiny frame, but my guess is that if you were able to move around as much as you did, it won't affect you too much, other than the pain.

[twiggy]

I have posted this several times before. It's not that you worry about dying from a scorpion, it's that you live in fear of the little suckers. It's hard enough to do all the things you have to do without always checking for scorpions. Call the exterminator in your area of interest, ask if he gets a lot of calls on scorpions. If he says yes, pick a different location. My daughters school has them but we don't seem to, I have never seen one in my house. But I did check with the exterminator for the previous owners. He said he never had a complaint for them there nor did he ever see one. I also made it a condition of the buy, I had them put that they weren't aware of any scorpion problems in this house. Ask neighbors too. Once you buy you will be stuck checking a your linens and stuff for them everyday and being afraid to crawl into bed, and checking your child's room every night. It would get too exhausting for me. You can find a place with little chance of having them if you check it out first. It is a painful sting I hear so it would probably put you in fear with a 2 year old, especially having to take them for a hospital visit. This is no big deal to some on here but I have 3 kids and it would be a big deal to them! You don't need extra stuff to worry about, you'll already have the yearly ear aches and flu season. Why add a scorpion sting to the list. Make sure to prepare before you buy, and check out the area for it first. I am glad we did. If it's a new build I'm afraid your out of luck. I don't know one person who bought a new house and doesn't have them in their house. Sorry, reality of getting a new home in the desert.

[MotleyCrew]

We bought a new home out in the outskirts and have not seen one in the house so far. Found a few dead and a few live ones on the back patio. We do get the pest service now, so that might be the reason we have none in the house.

[Boatdrinks]

Originally Posted by twiggy

If it's a new build I'm afraid your out of luck. I don't know one person who bought a new house and doesn't have them in their house. Sorry, reality of getting a new home in the desert.

That's not true at all. We've lived in 2 new constructions here in AZ (Chandler and Gilbert) and have not seen one scropion. Knock wood. Additionally, everyone I know lives in new construction and has never seen one.

[Ponderosa]

I bought "used" and I see them every once in a while around the house. Been stung, too. For a few days after each sting I will admit to heightened concern and awareness. But live in fear of them? That's silly. A rational person would not get paranoid/obsessive over this. Maybe being stung is good in the sense that you realize it just isn't that big of a deal.